DEMOCRACY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

DEMOCRACY - Essay Example In this case, it has the interest of the minority, since the minority is free from discrimination due to their views, and the interest of the majority. More clearly, democracy make it very easy for the people to freely participate in the political systems of the modern world, thereby making the principles of democracy very fair to all. According to Tilly (2007 pg45), democratic governments are opened to analysis especially about their socio-economic analysis. The public have the opportunity to assess and evaluate issues related to policy making, issues affecting the societal development and growth. Some of the main questions they are free to assess are about the economic policies that the government in place choose and are implementing, thereby addressing their possible outcomes. The next issue therefore becomes the effects of political issues on the economic outcomes (Barber, 2003 p 67). The study of democratic system of governments helps the public and learners to understand the role of agents that influence and make political decisions. The study also focuses on understanding the effects of institutional and constitutional choices. In addition to that, the study of such systems enables the public and learners to understand why many policy discussions require thinking and how changing any aspect of the constitut ion affects different aspects of policies. Democracy is based on the principle of equality whereby all the members of the public or state are equal before the law. The rights, political, economic, social, and cultural rights are enjoyed equally by the people meaning that the government cannot discriminate among the citizens based on their sex, religion, gender; property classes etc. generally, all have exclusively equal rights to choose their government through election which should be free and fair. This process outlines the issue of social decision making, voting rules and Condorcet winner. Election involves choosing some positive

National Flood Insurance Plan: Efforts in Reducing Flood Los

National Flood Insurance Plan: Efforts in Reducing Flood Los In this report, the City of St. Petersburg has several contingency plans set to reduce the risk of flooding. First and foremost, they advise through a statement of warning. According to the St. Petersburg Florida Code of Ordinance Municode Library (section 16.40.050.1.6, 2017) states that although the Florida Building Code is considered the minimum. The city informs that larger floods are bound to happen and will. The citys ordinance code discusses that flood levels may depend on the intervention and or support of natural -vs- man-made causes. The city places emphasis on flooding outside of the zone areas is not impossible and that it could happen and not to assume that it will not. The designated flood zones are based on Global Information Systems (GIS) maps called Flood Insurance Rate Maps or (FIRM). Their requirements can be found on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website. (FEMA), reserves the right to require city regulations to be revised as necessary as discussed in Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 59 and 60 (St. Petersburg Florida Code of Ordinance Municode Library, 2017). According to (Adamides et al., 2016) the city code statutes of the City of St. Pete uses what is referred to as a Community Rating System or (CRS). Prior to; July 1st, 2010 NFIP CRS Section 553.73(5) of Florida Statutes are the following a) limitations on use of enclosures below buildings b) limitations on use of nonstructural and no compacted earthen fill c) limitation on installation of manufactured homes in certain flood hazard areas d) requirement to locate buildings at least 10 feet landward of the reach of mean high tide e) submission of operations and maintenance plans for dry flood proofed buildings A broad overview of the scope of the St. Petersburg Florida Code of Ordinance Municode Library states in section 16.40.050.1.2. That provisions of the section including but not limited to subdivision of land; filling, grading, and other site improvements and utility installations; construction, alteration, remodeling, enlargement, improvement, replacement, repair, relocation or demolition of buildings, structures, and facilities that are exempt from the Florida Building Code (St. Petersburg Florida Code of Ordinance Municode Library, 2017). Other methods the City of St. Petersburg educates the populous to help reduce the risk of flooding is by passing out brochures, education of students of all ages and by amending if necessary any city ordinance codes or reform bills. Further education for the citizens of the city is on a detailed web page for the City of St. Petersburg. There is an in-depth overview of flood information including educational videos found on their website. The website resources also allow the community to access maps, contacts, and educational information on Biggert-Waters act and what it is. The City of St. Petersburg also allows access to mitigation strategy plans, the National Flood Insurance Plan or (NFIP) for the city; along with a Community Rating System or (CRS). Other relevant programs in Pinellas County on flood information, Floodplain Management for the city of St. Petersburg and its ordinance can be found on their main website as well as www.fema.gov. As a last measure of prevention, the city also alerts its citizens by the use of a public warning system. (Adamides et al., 2016). In order to enforce the minimum floodplain management regulations, the City of St. Petersburg employs building codes. Section 16.40.050.1.3 of the St. Petersburg Florida Code of Ordinance Municode Library references this. The code states that its purpose is to establish minimum requirements to safeguard the public health, safety, and general welfare of its citizens. It also minimizes public and private losses due to flooding through regulation of development in flood hazard areas (St. Petersburg Florida Code of Ordinance Municode Library, 2017). The St. Petersburg Florida Code of Ordinance Municode Library, states the following: Minimize unnecessary or prolonged disruption of commerce, access, and public service during times of flooding; Require the use of appropriate practices, at the time of initial construction, in order to prevent or minimize future flood damage; Manage filling, grading, dredging, mining, paving, excavation, drilling operations, storage of equipment or materials, and other development which may increase flood damage or erosion potential; Manage the alteration of flood hazard areas, watercourses, and shorelines to minimize the impact of development on the natural and beneficial functions of the floodplain; Minimize damage to public and private facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines, streets and bridges located in floodplains; Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of flood hazard areas in such a manner as to minimize future flood blight areas; Minimize the need for future expenditure of public funds for flood control projects and response to and recovery from flood events; Meet the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program for community participation as set forth in the Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations, section 59.22; Protect human life and health; Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public; Ensure that property owners are notified yearly the property is in a flood-prone area; Restrict or prohibit uses which are dangerous to health, safety, and property due to water or erosion hazards or which result in damaging increases in erosion or in flood heights or velocities; and Prevent or regulate the construction of flood barriers which will unnaturally divert floodwaters or which may increase flood hazards to other lands. So what is flood insurance the Biggert-Waters act? According to Harrington a journalist with the Tampa bay Times, it is a Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, which removed the subsidies on about 20 percent of policies nationwide for homes that were built prior to 1975 (Harrington, 2016). Harrington writes that Congress after considering the damages that accrued after Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy they needed to make the NFIP meet yearly criteria. Congress found that after the storms the program was more than $23 billion in debt due to claims in those years. Another drawback of the Flood Insurance Reform was that some of its recipients were grandfathered in at low flood insurance rates (Harrington, 2016). Harrington writes that Florida of all the other states was the most affected by the new reforms. In 2014 in hopes of improving the Flood Insurance Reform Act, Congress decided due to the losses to revise the cost of insurance. This act created a 20% hike in insurance rates. In consideration to the homeowners, the new rates would not be in play until 2016 and the homeowners were allowed extra time to prepare for the rates to go up. This ended with renewals beginning April 1st, 2016. Previously mentioned, GIS maps or FIRMS were drawn up to show Floodplain Zones. They were designated with letters such as A, B, C, V, and X. Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) or high-risk areas are designated with A and V; whereas low-risk zones are everything else. They are known as Non-Special Flood Hazard Areas (NSFHAs) (Harrington, 2016). Harrington notes that more than 50% of Floridas 2 million insurance policies are zones designated in the X area. Collected data over the past decades reflects a great deal on the City of St. Petersburg. The NFIP was able to project a 100-year plan. This plan shows coastal flooding inland as far as 10 miles in some areas where others are only a few (Boland, 2017). According to the significant flood events data on FEMA.gov Superstorm Sandy, on the other hand in October of 2012 paid 131,031 losses in policies with an estimated $8,494,205,096 in damages with an average loss payment of $65,00 Granted Superstorm Sandy minutely affected Florida and the City of St. Petersburg it still did its fair share of damages. Tropical Storm Debbie who sat on the coast of Florida in June of 2012, did do a great deal of damage. One thousand seven hundred and ninety-two policies were affected, with $42,694,074 in total damages paid out. Each with an average amount of payment at $24,000 (Significant Flood Events | FEMA.gov, 2017). It is with this type of data that the City of St. Petersburg is able to compile projections of future disasters. According to the Repetitive Loss Area Analysis, Shore Acres represents a repetitive loss area within St. Petersburg which attribute to over 200 affected flood policies. Shore Acres alone attributed to $13.7 million in losses that were paid out. Before development in 1923 Shore Acres was designated as costal marshlands. It was later developed in the mid-1950s with land varying from 5 to 6 feet above sea-level (Shore Acres Repetitive Loss Area Analysis, 2016). The Repetitive Loss Area Analysis states that Shore Acres along with Belleair Shores and Clearwater Beach attribute to 21.95% of the State of Floridas pay out. The three totaled $67,976,750.33 in damages alone. These high loss areas in Pinellas County are considered Hot Spots for the county and are targeted areas for future mitigation programs (Shore Acres Repetitive Loss Area Analysis, 2016). Bibliography References Cited Adamides, D., Dunn CBO CFM, R., Frey PE, C., Holehouse CPCU, J., Kinsey, L., Seeks, A. et al. (2016). CITY OF ST PETERSBURG NFIP PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION REPORT (1st ed.). Saint Petersburg: St. Petersburg City Council. https://www.stpete.org/emergency/flooding/docs/NFIP-CRS%20PPI%202016%20Report.pdf Taylor CFM, N. (2017). Flooding St. Petersburg. Stpete.org. http://www.stpete.org/emergency/flooding/ Significant Flood Events | FEMA.gov. (2017). Fema.gov. https://www.fema.gov/significant-flood-events NFIP Policy Growth Percentage Change. (2017) (1st ed., pp. 1-3). Retrieved from Significant Flood Events | FEMA.gov. (2017). Fema.gov. https://www.fema.gov/significant-flood-events http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/realestate/even-with-shore-acres-st-petersburg-paid-8-times-more-into-flood-insurance/2150628 Shore Acres Repetitive Loss Area Analysis. (2016) (1st ed.). City of St. Petersburg. https://www.stpete.org/emergency/flooding/docs/Shore%20Acres%20RLAA%20-%202016.pdf Boland, C. (2017). FEMA NFIP 100 Year Flood Zones in St. Petersburg. Arcgis.com. https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=489ebde40c834cf8b90a197b5cdc4d56 Harrington, J. (2016). Remember the flood insurance scare of 2013? Its creeping back into Tampa Bay and Florida. Tampa Bay Times. http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/banking/remember-the-flood-insurance-scare-of-2013-its-creeping-back-into-tampa/2288308 Federal Emergency Management Agency, (2013). Analysis of Floridas NFIP Repetitive Loss Properties using geospatial tools and field verification data (pp. 19, 25, and 26). Pinellas County: FEMA. https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1711-25045- 7431/analysis_of_florida_s_nfip_repetitive_loss_properties_using_geospatial_tools_and_field_verrification_data.txt St. Petersburg Florida Code of Ordinance Municode Library. (2017). Municode.com. https://www.municode.com/library/fl/st._petersburg/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIISTPECO_CH16LADERE_S16.40.050FLMA_16.40.050.1.3INPU

Essay --

Malgudi is, and will always be a land of imagination, in which sustains, its own set of problems and dynamics. The set of recurring characters is a reassuring and comforting thought. While embarking on a new Narayan novel, the readers get a feeling of familiarity with the place and the people.Right from his first chapter in ‘Swami And Friends’ to the last chapter he wrote in ‘Grandmother’s Tale’, he strives to show a world of conflict that is Malgudi. This is where, the beauty of his writing lies. Narayan managed to retain an average reader’s interest in Malgudi over a period of six decades. Malgudi was created and written about, by R.K. Narayan, keeping in mind his hometown of Mysore. Seen as place which is more or less stagnated, the same set of characters and places help the reader get a continuous reading experience. Moreover it has helped in creating a unique identity to this place. Saying that Malgudi remains the same over the course of Narayan’s career as a writer, would be unfair. For one could see signs of development in the latter books;which could have been inspired by p...

Breaking a social norms

What Is your paper about? What will you say? Theory: Discuss in detail the theoretical issues that are related to social norms in general and to the one you chose to break in particular. Where do social norms come from? What Is the social norm that you chose and how and why did It evolve? How does your behavior break the social norm? Why is the social norm you broke a social norm? How might normative and Informational social Influence relate to obedience to this arm?Is it a descriptive or an injunctive norm (what are those and why)? What predictions did you have about how you would feel or how people would react? Tell everything you know about social norms and why It relates to the theory. Make sure to address each of these questions at some point in your paper or you will lose Your experience: Describe how your behavior breaks the social norm. What did you do? Describe the reactions of the people when you broke the social norm. Did they get angry?Did they give you weird looks? Did a nyone say anything? Did different types of people react in different ways? Why did they react this way? Did they react how you predicted? You will also want to talk about how you felt. Did you feel embarrassed? Sick to your stomach? Liberated from society? Discuss any reactions or feelings in terms of the relevant theories and studies. It might be also fun to speculate about how someone else might have felt if they were in your position. Integration:How does your experience relate to the theories? Do different theories of conformity predict the reactions you got when you broke the There are many other interesting questions and issues that you might choose to raise when thinking theoretically about the experience of breaking a norm. Conclusion: Take a step back to look at the big picture of social norms. Evaluate your feelings and the behavior you observed in the context of the theories. What does your experience have to add to the theory?

Customer Service and Data Warehouse

Liu, An Chi (Allison) #20, Truong, Dominic #31 Tseng, Chun Yao (Gary) #33, Wang, Wei (Chloe) #35 Wang, Zhuoqun (Mask) #36, Zhang, Tao (Kevin) #48 Professor Kim MGT 205 Assignment #5: IT’s About Business 3. 2 1. Why was it necessary for the Isle of Capri Casinos to develop a data warehouse? The Isle of Capri Casinos experienced challenges in the geographical location of their properties as well as their diverse clientele. This made it very difficult for the publicly traded gaming company to segment customers and to establishing an inclusive brand image.With that, the company caters to a variety of customers in Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado, and Florida. They found the past Customer Relationship Management (CRM) model to have generalized their customer view, thus initiating a need for a ‘single view of the business and the customer’. This new database warehouse method would enhance their competitive strategy by encouraging continuous guest relatio nships and surpassing guests’ needs and expectations in terms of atmosphere. 2. Describe the variety of benefits that the Isle realized from its data warehouse.There are many benefits for Isle in the development of their new data warehouse. Firstly, the system quickly and conveniently allowed the company to establish segmentation within the market. The system identified segments centered on the number of visits, which ultimately determined the level of offers and values. Eg. Company researchers determined that players who visit four times a month required an alternative incentive package that those who visited once a month. The company was also able to interpret the data generated by the warehouse to develop information for market experiments.The series of segmentations allowed for cross tabulation within customers— Who stayed at least two or three times? Who gamed and who didn’t? How much did staying in a hotel affect customer’s gaming activity? The dete rmination of these experiments created business opportunities within demographics of consumers. One study showed that local customers ‘game more’ when they stay in the casino hotel. Through this experiment, a local promotion was established to encourage customers to stay one free night.In turn, this proved to be profitable in the precision of their targeted offers, consequently motivating customers to visit the company’s casino locations. Lastly, another benefit from the database warehouse was in the strategic determination of slots and game locations. The company could enhance revenue and profit by strategically placing new games and machines based on past behaviors from high-value players. All in all, the data warehouse serves as a valuable resource for market analysis and customer segmentation.

Thomas Hardy and Penelope Lively Essays

Thomas Hardy and Penelope Lively Essays Thomas Hardy and Penelope Lively Paper Thomas Hardy and Penelope Lively Paper You could get people wrong, Sandra realises in The Darkness Out There. Assess how effectively Thomas Hardy and Penelope Lively explore this theme in their characterisation techniques. The Withered Arm and The Darkness Out There are two different stories with a common theme. Both include main characters that change even though they are from different centuries and backgrounds. The Darkness Out There is told through the eyes of Sandra, a girl going to help at the home of Mrs Rutter. Her views and ideas are immature and undeveloped, she only sees the surface of things and is quite naive. Towards the end of the story she realises these views are not realistic and her opinions change. One of the best ways to learn about a character is found in the way they live. Mrs Rutters environment gives the overriding impression of a harmless old lady. Her house is homely, filled with china ornaments of safe, nice characters like big flop-eared rabbits and beribboned kittens. There are numerous mentions of flowers, which she likes, for example She brought out a flowered tin Look at the little cornflowers. And the daisies. These features are typical of a stereotyped old lady, who is deemed safe and trusted. However, in amongst the safe, innocent atmosphere, Penelope Lively briefly mentions there was a smell of cabbage, which hints there may be something more dark and sinister about the place. In the earlier stages of the story, Lively depicts Mrs Rutter as a generous, welcoming sweet old woman. As Sandra and Kerry arrive at her house she offers them tea and puts them to work in a friendly way without ordering I daresay youd like to She affectionately calls one of them, my duck. This is a very conventional way of showing her outside, explicit character. Mrs Rutter has a suspiciously inquisitive nature. We can tell this because she asks both Sandra and Kerry a lot of questions about themselves, for example Still at school, are you? I expect youve got lots of boyfriends, though, havent you? This factor could just mean she is politely interested, but she asks too many quite personal questions and seems quite lonely. It appears she has not had children of her own here, as she strongly stereotypes both Kerry and Sandra. She sends Kerry outside to work quite early on I expect youre a nice strong boy, arent you?- to enable her to chat to Sandra, who does traditionally female jobs such as cleaning and dusting. Whilst chatting to Sandra, she appears quite lonely as she asks a lot of questions and makes personal remarks. As when describing her environment, Lively inserts one slightly disconcerting point to Mrs Rutters speech and actions Mind your pretty skirt, pull it up a bit, theres only me to see if youre showing a bit of bum. Although this could be a harmless comment, it is rather full on to say it to a stranger. Lively also describes Mrs Rutters darting eyes. Some of her comments embarrass or maybe worry Sandra. This is all part of the way Lively gradually reveals parts of the darker side of Mrs Rutter. During the latter stages of the story, Lively reveals more about Mrs Rutter as she allows her to speak for herself. It should be noted that the character is more honest about herself when under pressure, as most people are. The stress of talking about her husband and reliving the trauma of the war make her less on-guard and more liable to say what she really thinks, without dulling it down for the sake of Sandra and Kerry. The second half of the story backs up the negative aspects found in the first half. The sinister, mean woman was there all along, one realises at the end, but this was very implicit whereas it is shown more obviously in the second half where Mrs Rutter tells her story. Lively has thought about the different mentality of the war years from when the story was written so Mrs Rutter is not entirely blamed for being bitter about the Germans during the war, yet it is realised as unacceptable to leave one to die. There is also the minor point about her husband being killed early on in the war, which would leave someone with a lot more hatred towards the country. Lively also writes about Mrs Rutter having a lot of old things in her house The walls were cluttered with old calendars and pictures torn from magazines. She has shown the character doesnt like to move on and is living in the past, which explains why she feels no remorse for what she did to the German and also why she stereotyped Kerry and Sandra. Penelope Livelys use of figurative language helps characterise Mrs Rutter from the moment she enters the story. She seemed composed of circles, a cottage loaf of a woman. Whilst explicitly stating she is fat, the cottage loaf metaphor depicts a homely, traditional woman which is greatly reflected in what she says and does in the first half of the story. Chins collapsed one into another, This explicitly reflects on her size, yet hints implicitly that as she has many chins it could also mean she has many sides to her personality. The writer again in this paragraph inserts a negative point in amongst many positive, stating, her eyes snapped and darted, as if the character was suspicious. The description of her eyes appears again later in the text Her eyes investigated, quick as mice. Mice also came up later on, the cupboard smelled of damp and mouse. The ongoing simile of the mouse shows she is alert and investigative. Lively made the connection between the mouse and Mrs Rutters actions but added strong contrast to her appearance, making Mrs Rutter mouse-like in character but the opposite in physique. This is to prevent too many connections being made with such a timid creature before finding out what she is really like. Only when Lively allows Mrs Rutter to speak for herself fully in the second half does her true character show. The Withered Arm by Thomas Hardy is another story in which characters can be misjudged. One of these characters is Farmer Lodge, a yeoman farmer from a rural village in 19th Century England. As in The Darkness Out There, Hardy uses environment effectively to convey aspects of Farmer Lodges character. It plays a bigger part in outlining Farmer Lodge than in the previous story, because there was more social order at the time The Withered Arm was written. Knowing the fact that Farmer Lodge was very near the top of the social hierarchy, certainly above dairymen and other peasants, Hardy clearly enforces his higher status with the way he acts and others act around him. Farmer Lodge obviously knows he shouldnt mix with the lower classes, as this is backed up with the fact he had a son with Rhoda (a peasant) and saw it as a mistake which Rhoda and Jamie realised -What did he say or do? Just the same as usual. Took no notice of you? None. As he would have been brought up in the higher class and probably inherited his estate, he seems knowledgeable on what should and shouldnt happen in his environment. The reader can see he was right, he mixed with the lower classes and was punished with a son. Therefore he had good reason to be wary when he implied Gertrude shouldnt talk to the people of the village yet she did, and was hurt. It is possible to think most people in Farmer Lodges position would have warned their new wives off, it is an intelligent thing to do because he learnt from his mistake. Hardy uses this to implicitly give background and meaning to why Gertrude shouldnt go to the village. Hardy also conveys Farmer Lodges intelligence through his difference from the peasants. They believe in witchcraft and the powers of Conjuror Trendle, not products of a learned background, and strongly stereotype Rhoda thinking she is a witch. His new wife, Gertrude, believes the kind of things they do and Farmer Lodge, in a rather condescending fashion, is disgusted at the fact she chose to mix with them Damned if you wont poison yourself with these apothecary messes and witch mixtures some time or other. He also orders her to see a real doctor and doesnt recommend the conjuror. After setting this scene, Hardy goes against his previous comments, Gertrude commenting My husband says it is as if some witch, or the devil himself, had taken hold of me there, and blasted the flesh. If Farmer Lodge was not supposed to believe in magic it is rather confusing that he himself should suggest this. Although he doesnt show it, Farmer Lodge is probably feeling threatened that Gertrude is taking matters into her own (withered) hands. He is used to being the dominant character, in those days always the man, and having his partner do what he tell her, yet she goes against his will which was unheard of. Hardy is deliberately contrasting her strong will with his obsession with appearances, a situation guaranteed to draw the reader in expecting a great event. As his status will allow, Hardy shows Farmer Lodge realises the importance of appearances. He knows it is important to be seen with his pretty wife beside him, attending church and not sleeping around in the village. We can tell this from his new marriage, he is trying desperately to make up for his mistake with Rhoda by getting it right the second time. However, as mentioned earlier, Gertrude is a strong character and doesnt like to be drawn attention to, as was expected of her. Hardy shows she notices something of her husbands trait Men think so much of personal appearance. We can also see this part of his character in the church scene, Farmer Lodge has a designated seat for himself and one for his wife, again showing his higher status and knowledge of the fact. As in The Darkness Out There, what Farmer Lodge says and does is important in characterisation. There is also a difference in the character in each half of the story. In the first half of The Withered Arm, Farmer Lodge is put across as a stern, heartless, high status yeoman farmer who only cares for appearances. This is the opposite of Mrs Rutter, as Lively depicts her as a nice, kind old lady and Hardy shows Farmer Lodge to be harsh and uncaring. The second half of the story is also like that of The Darkness Out There, in that Farmer Lodges caring side shows through when he finally accepts responsibility for his son. In the early stages of the story Farmer Lodges aloofness shows when he advises Gertrude not to mix with the lower classes. He appears to have no apparent responsibility, however some more favourable early hints show a final good side in the end, for example I once thought of adopting a boy; but he is too old now. And he is gone away I dont know where. This suggests he was starting to accept responsibility, but still didnt. Small comments like this which go against the general theme of the story, which are not often picked up on, are featured in The Darkness Out There aswell, like the cabbage smell for example. The two writers use this technique well to convey slightly different aspects of their characters. Towards the end of The Withered Arm, Hardy conveys Farmer Lodges caring side by him setting up a reformatory for boys. He has a sympathy for boys, solely because of Jamie but perhaps because he was one. He feels sorry for Jamie, his great appearance would be dented if he had adopted as it is a bit too charitable and nice for an aloof lord. Hardy decides here that Farmer Lodge really is a genuine person, trapped in the social status that says he must be apart from everybody else and respected for his position, which also reflects the society of the times. As in real life, we learn a lot about people through how others react to them. There are two ways in which the other characters in the story react to Farmer Lodge, they refer to his role, for instance Jamie is fearful of him when he is collecting the hares and the people are deferential to his face, talking about him behind his back but leaving his place open in church. They also refer to his actual person; they discuss his business behind his back and for example Rhoda is very bitter. As is often in good stories, particularly in The Darkness Out There and The Withered Arm, the authors use of language plays a large part in their characterisation techniques. Although Penelope Lively used more figurative language in The Darkness Out There, Farmer Lodge is described with two main methods. The driver was a yeoman in the prime of life, cleanly shaven like an actor,This simple simile has more meaning than his smooth complexion. Although it merges in as a conventional introduction to the character, it implicitly suggests there may be something different about Farmer Lodge, as an actor often wears masks and pretends to be somebody else, rather like the description of Mrs Rutters face. The overriding impression is that he is not what he appears to be. The other factor in Hardys use of language is the use of imperatives by Farmer Lodge You must expect to be stared at damned if you wont poison yourself with these apothecary messes and witch mixtures some time or other. Hardy chooses his language carefully to reveal certain aspects of Farmer Lodge, the imperatives showing his high status as both a man and a yeoman and the impression of a tough, intimidating lord. These add up to a man who speaks in orders, which although is partly accepted with his position in society is slightly more than that, perhaps as a defence mechanism to stop people knowing too much about him in mind of protecting his status. The Withered Arm is told entirely in the third person, authorial voice. This is the most explicit and conventional way of telling a story, it distances the reader from the events and only when written very well can it engage the reader emotionally. The reader is treated as a distant, objective onlooker, remote from the action, and a lot is expected of them to understand the feelings of the characters instead of just reading them, which is why many people dont try. Each of his points is told so explicitly there is no point in looking into it. Only once does Hardy implicitly make a point, the simile about the actor, but he could have honestly meant it as a description with no hidden meaning. Although simple yet challenging to analyse, this approach all the way through the story conveys the message in a rather patronising, boring way. The Darkness Out There uses mixed narrative, a more sophisticated manner using both third and first person. The story starts through the mind of Sandra, where it is easier to read between the lines and believe the dominant first persons ideas. Many readers are taken in by what Sandra thinks and her opinions of Mrs Rutter, so that when later on in the story the authorial voice takes over it is more of a shock to find out how different she was. This helps the reader identify with the dominant character from the start, although some readers will automatically become wary when seeing the story is told in the first person, as their opinions may not be correct. When the reader gets more involved in the story from the characters point of view, their opinions change too. For example, all the description of Packers End is told through Sandras eyes so the readers impression of it would be that of Sandra. Kerry noticed Mrs Rutters traits earlier on in the story, so perhaps if The Darkness Out There was told entirely in the third person the reader would have noticed too but Sandras juvenile opinions overshadowed this. This is how many readers also get people wrong. As we enter Sandras mind and become her, we make the same mistakes as her. Some of the points made in The Darkness Out There could easily have been made explicitly by the third person, but they werent and this is what makes it a better read than The Withered Arm. It is a more challenging read if one wants to take the psychoanalytical approach to the characters and their actions, but overall by far the better story for getting the message across of you could get people wrong. This is because the reader himself learns from experience the mistakes Sandra makes. All early views of Mrs Rutter are by Sandra and Lively cleverly prevents the reader from noticing until Mrs Rutter is allowed to speak for herself, by which time it is too late, they have already been taken in. This is by far the better story for getting the message across as it involves the reader, whereas The Withered Arm keeps them at (a withered) arms length.

The History and Fact About the Mousetrap

The History and Fact About the Mousetrap A  mousetrap  is a type of  animal trap  designed primarily to catch  mice; however, it may also, accidentally or not, trap other small animals. Mousetraps are usually set somewhere indoors where there is a suspected infestation of  rodents. The trap that is credited as the first patented lethal mousetrap was a set of spring-loaded, cast-iron jaws dubbed Royal No. 1.  It was patented on November 4, 1879, by James M. Keep of New York.  From the patent description, it is clear that this is not the  first  mousetrap of this type, but the patent is for this simplified, easy-to-manufacture, design. It is the industrial age development of the  deadfall trap, but relying on the force of a wound spring rather than gravity. The jaws of this type are operated by a coiled spring and the triggering mechanism is between the jaws, where the bait is held. The  trip  snaps the jaws shut, killing the rodent. Lightweight traps of this style are now constructed from plastic. These traps do not have a powerful snap like other types. They are safer for the fingers of the person setting them than other lethal traps and can be set with the press on a tab by a single finger or even by foot. James Henry Atkinson The classic spring-loaded mousetrap was first patented by William C. Hooker of  Abingdon, Illinois, who received a patent for his design in 1894.  A British inventor,  James Henry Atkinson, patented a similar trap called the Little Nipper in 1898, including variations that had a weight-activated treadle as the trip The Little Nipper is the classic snapping mousetrap that we are all familiar with that has the small flat wooden base, the spring trap, and the wire fastenings.  Cheese may be placed on the trip as  bait, but other foods such as oats, chocolate, bread, meat, butter, and peanut butter are more commonly used.   The Little Nipper slams shut in 38,000th of a second and that record has never been beaten. This is the design that has prevailed until today. This mousetrap has captured a 60 percent share of the British mousetrap market alone, and an estimated equal share of the international market. James Atkinson sold his mousetrap patent in 1913 for 1,000 pounds to Procter, the company that has been manufacturing the Little Nipper ever since, and has even built a 150-exhibit mousetrap museum in their factory headquarters. American John Mast of Lititz, Pennsylvania, received a patent on his similar snap-trap mousetrap in 1899. Humane Mousetraps Austin Kness had an idea for a better mousetrap back in the 1920s. The Kness Ketch-All Multiple Catch mousetrap doesnt use bait. It catches mice alive and can catch several before it needs to be reset. Mousetraps Galore Did you know that the Patent Office has issued more than 4,400 mousetrap patents; however, only about 20 of those patents have made any money? Catch a few of the different designs for mousetraps in our mousetrap gallery.

Bullet Points and Numbered Lists in Microsoft Word

Bullet Points and Numbered Lists in Microsoft Word Bullet Points and Numbered Lists in Microsoft Word Although most of an academic paper should be written with full sentences divided up into paragraphs, bullet points and numbered lists can be useful in some contexts. For instance, vertical lists are particularly useful when giving examples or reporting steps in a process. Microsoft Word also makes adding lists to a document reassuringly simple. All you need to do is follow the instructions below. Using Bullet Points in an Essay Bullet points are useful when listing things non-sequentially (i.e., when there is no specific order in which the items involved should be listed). They should also be reserved for longer lists, as short lists of up to three or four items can be included in the main text. To add a bullet pointed list to a document in Microsoft Word 2007 or later, simply: Place the cursor where you want the list to begin Go to â€Å"Paragraph† under the â€Å"Home† tab on the main ribbon Paragraph options. Click the â€Å"Bullets† button to begin a list (you can select the type of bullet point you want by using the arrow to open a new menu) Type the first entry in your list, hitting â€Å"Enter† to start the next one To end your list, hit â€Å"Enter† twice after the final item. You can even customize your bullet points with an image of your choosing for a little extra color. We like using eagles, but we admit that this probably isn’t appropriate for most academic documents. Disagree and an eagle will swoop down to correct you. Using Numbered Lists Numbered lists are appropriate when listing items sequentially or in order of importance. The process for adding a numbered list to a document is similar to adding a bulleted list: Select where you want to begin your list Go to the â€Å"Paragraph† section of the â€Å"Home† tab Click the â€Å"Numbering† button (you can select a numbering style from the dropdown menu by clicking the arrow) The Numbering options. Type your first entry, then hit â€Å"Enter† to create the next one As with bulleted lists, you end a numbered list by hitting â€Å"Enter† twice after the final item. For more control over the style, select â€Å"Define New Number Format† in the numbering menu. Using Multilevel Lists Finally, if you really want to push the boat out, you can use a â€Å"Multilevel† list. This is useful if you want to include sub-lists within a main list, like in the following: A multilevel list. To add a list like this to your document, you’ll have to: Select a list style under â€Å"Multilevel List† in the â€Å"Paragraph† section of the â€Å"Home† tab Multilevel list options. Write out your list as normal, beginning each item on a new line To adjust the â€Å"level† of any given point, simply open the â€Å"Multilevel List† menu and select the appropriate option from the â€Å"Change List Level† submenu Changing list level. As with the other lists discussed here, you can customize the style of multilevel lists by selecting â€Å"Define New Multilevel List† from the menu. This will open a new window where you can modify each level of your chosen list style as required. Editing a multilevel list.

DARE Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

DARE - Term Paper Example These 43 countries vary in languages and are spread across the globe. Anguilla, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Iceland, Cuba, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Norway, Spain, South Korea, United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Wales and St. Maarten are some of the countries which have embraced D.A.R.E. as a means of assisting them in the fight against drug abuse and violence. D.A.R.E. signifies a collaborative effort to reduce crime between ‘local schools and law enforcement personnel’ (Leis 2009). Interestingly, local D.A.R.E. programs were found to be so effective that both national and international stakeholders clamored for the creation of an umbrella organization. This massive demand led to the establishment of D.A.R.E. America, a major resource to improve the quality of the local D.A.R.E. programs. This non-profit organization offers officer training provides educational materials for students, assesses the D.A.R.E. curriculum as well as the standards of instruction and program effectiveness. D.A.R.E. America generates consciousness in the minds of the American citizens about D.A.R.E. Police officers are trained and certified to present classroom lessons to children from kindergarten to 12th grade. ... An additional 40 hours of training in high school curriculum is necessary for D.A.R.E. instructors. Internationally D.A.R.E. is considered to be a representation of community policing. The United States Department of Justice has highlighted several valuable contributions of D.A.R.E. to local communities. Two major benefits include a seamless relationship between the young people and the police and opportunities for there to be open communication/dialogues between the school, police and parents. It is quite easy to begin a D.A.R.E. program in one’s community. A signed written agreement between the Superintendent of Schools and the Chief of police I submitted to D.A.R.E. America indicating the desires of both parties to implement the program and the guarantee that the police officers would participate and complete the required D.A.R.E. training. Generally, there is no charge for the tuition to officers. However, some training centers may charge a small fee. The requesting instit utions would usually pay for the lodging and meal expenses of their officers. For the first year both instructor’s materials and students’ workbooks are supplied free of charge to the officers and students in question. Hence a starter kit is supplied to these communities free of charge for the first year. D.A.R.E. in its 28 years life span has received endless praise for its work in public awareness of drug abuse and gang violence from a wide range of members of society. However, no commendation is as distinguished as its first Presidential proclamation since 1988 of a national D.A.R.E. Day. Subsequent to this date each year is marked with a Presidential Proclamation declaring one day in the year as the national

Personal and Professional Footprint Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Personal and Professional Footprint - Essay Example In fact, according to the results, we would require at least 4.2 planets if all people in the world were living my lifestyle. I was shocked by this because I have always regarded my life as modest and not too demanding in terms of natural resources. Of the four carbon footprint tests that I toot, two of them indicated that my carbon footprint is above national average. For instance, my housing footprint was 31.31 while the national average is only 28.36. My goods and services footprint is 67.78 compared to the national average of 62.06. I not only find these statistics as relevant but I also find them shocking and this means that I need to review my lifestyle. The industry has a number of processes and equipment that are associated with carbon footprint. This is caused by the number and type of machines, materials and processes that professionals in this industry have to use in order to be able to do their work. For instance, biologists have to use a number of chemicals for the various experiments they carry out. These chemicals have a number of negative impacts on the environment either directly or indirectly (Matthew, 2012). For instance, the chemical are removed from their natural places of existence and this has a negative impact on the environment. At the same time, the residues from these chemicals after they have been used in the laboratories also have a negative impact on the environment if the disposal is not done the right way. The other issue is the machinery that is used in the industry. This machinery consumes a lot of electricity and this definitely has an impact on the environment especially when the power source is not a renewable source. Electronic microscopes and other such machinery can consume a lot of power every year thus expanding the carbon footprint on the planet. At the same time, the manufacturing of these machinery and other laboratory equipment raging from the simple items as

Evaluate the methods used to obtain qualitative and quantitive Essay

Evaluate the methods used to obtain qualitative and quantitive information on DNA methylation - Essay Example Varied methods for analyzing DNA methylation quantitatively and qualitatively exist, and they entail studying the polymerase chain reactions. Notably, the identified and widely procedures for analyzing DNA methylation both qualitatively and quantitatively include methylation-specific PCR(MSP), combined bisulfite restriction analysis (COBRA), bisulfite sequencing, methylation-sensitive single nucleotide primer extension (Ms-SNuPE), as well as, quantitative real-time MSP (Szyf, 2010 p 29). The use of each technique depends on the efficacy and intended information gain of the analysis process. Methylation-specific PCR technique involves the analysis of DNA methylation patterns in CpG islands. Thus, it is a qualitative technique of obtaining information on DNA methylation. The method involves the modification of the DNA using PCR with two primer pairs that are detectable in methylated and unmethylated DNA respectively (Ip, Canham, Choo, Inaba, Jacobs, Kalitsis, Mattiske, Saffery, Wong, Wong & Mann, 2012, p 9). The study of the methylation patterns focuses on the regulation of gene expressions as they occur in mammalian cells. This technique is useful from its advantages. Notably, it is highly sensitive and highly specific for particulate CpG sites, which makes it remarkably accurate. Additionally, the Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) facilitates for analysis of clinical samples, which have low levels of methylated sequences. The use of the restriction enzymes eliminates the problem of incomplete enzyme digestion; hence, giving accurate findings. The limitation of the techniq ue includes that incomplete bisulfite modification of the DNA gives false positivity results (Szyf, 2010 p 56). Further, poor design of the primers could give inconclusive results. Bisulfite sequencing technique entails the use of bisulphite treatment of the DNA to establish its pattern of methylation. It is a qualitative technique and was the first

Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 20

Philosophy - Essay Example Although it is not possible to say he describes the absolute truth in his works, the lens he uses to look at history—realism—is one of the most valuable and significant. What was Thucydides’ political philosophy? Simply put, people are not perfect and rarely have the best intentions of the human race in mind when they act, in particular if they are leaders of various countries. Thucydides looked at the characters and conflicts and his time and tried to understand why events happened the way they did. He didn’t act in a hardcore ideological way and he did let his curiosity motivate him, but he had decided views about politics. Although he admired Pericles, he hated demagogues who would rile up the masses and force the country and its leaders to act out of the basest of instincts. All of the issues and problems of politics that this great man came up with and first observed thousands of years ago are with us to this day. We can see the philosophical legacy of Thucydides present in today’s world amongst analysts who look at the world from a position of realism. These people would look, for example, at Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, and they would say that Russia’s motives in invading Afghanistan were rooted in self-interests, vested interests, the desire to perpetrate the communist ideology in the whole world, the amassing of more powers that would tilt the balance of power in its favor and against the interests of its Cold War adversary, the United States. To the realist and to Thucydides, expansion of power is often a nation or person’s motivating force and ambition. States and people compete for economic resources and the highest degree of security possible. States value military and economic strength and they are stopped in its tracks only when the level of power of opposing claimants are stronger or just as equal. When analyzing a war—Thucydides

Roles and Governance Models Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Roles and Governance Models - Research Paper Example The roles are disintegrated for each professional and have to execute it diligently to ensure that the project becomes a success. The basic role of a software engineer is to build and develop software according to the specifications that will serve the purpose as documented in paper work. When a project is proposed, it is always in a paper work, it then calls for a software engineer to interpret the information by programming (Dickens, 2006). Through programming language, the software engineer is able to come up with a system that does exactly what is proposed in the paper work. The engineer must be good in data structures and algorithms for this stage of the project to successfully be realized. The software is varied and only conforms to the purpose to which it is planned; a software engineer must therefore be good in programming to produce quality work. A system architect plays more or less the same role as software engineer; he is responsible for the development of the design of the software given that he understands best the customer’s specifications. Software must be designed first before actually it is developed, the analogy here is the plan of the hours, the architect has to draw the plan of the house before engineer can come in, the same principles applies in the development of the software. System analyst is a guru in the development of software and that is why they are able to work out architectural design of very complex systems for the developers to execute the remaining development. In this regard, it explains how close the team operates in the achievement of the purpose (Dickens, 2006). Business analyst is responsible for the dealing with the customers to identify the taste of the customers so that he can provide specification of the software project. Business analyst is responsible for knowing what the customers want so that he is able to provide the same

Physics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Physics - Assignment Example The universe comprises of millions of super clusters. These super clusters consist of hundreds of different sized galaxies. Of such a super cluster is our earth a part of. The super cluster consists of galaxies in the form of groups. The galaxy in which earth is situated is called Milky Way and is situated in a group called the local group which comprises of more than 30 galaxies (Caprara & Harris, 2003). The Milky Way is made up of a number of stars and constellations of stars, planets, rocks, sun, gaseous elements and other such similar things. Our earth is the part of a solar system which lies in the Milky Way galaxy. Our earth is the third planet from the sun. The Milky Way galaxy is extended in a number of directions and these extensions have been named as arms. The name of the arms has been given by the name of the constellation which can be observed in that particular direction. Orion spur is the name of one its minor arm in which our solar system is situated. It is placed at the far edge of the galaxy. The sun is approximately at a distance of 26,000 to 28,000 light years from the center of the Milky Way galaxy. 2. Electromagnetic Spectrum has been divided into different regions according to the difference in the values of the frequency and wavelength. Following are the types of waves comprising of the electromagnetic spectrum and their applications: 1.

Roles and Governance Models Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Roles and Governance Models - Research Paper Example The roles are disintegrated for each professional and have to execute it diligently to ensure that the project becomes a success. The basic role of a software engineer is to build and develop software according to the specifications that will serve the purpose as documented in paper work. When a project is proposed, it is always in a paper work, it then calls for a software engineer to interpret the information by programming (Dickens, 2006). Through programming language, the software engineer is able to come up with a system that does exactly what is proposed in the paper work. The engineer must be good in data structures and algorithms for this stage of the project to successfully be realized. The software is varied and only conforms to the purpose to which it is planned; a software engineer must therefore be good in programming to produce quality work. A system architect plays more or less the same role as software engineer; he is responsible for the development of the design of the software given that he understands best the customer’s specifications. Software must be designed first before actually it is developed, the analogy here is the plan of the hours, the architect has to draw the plan of the house before engineer can come in, the same principles applies in the development of the software. System analyst is a guru in the development of software and that is why they are able to work out architectural design of very complex systems for the developers to execute the remaining development. In this regard, it explains how close the team operates in the achievement of the purpose (Dickens, 2006). Business analyst is responsible for the dealing with the customers to identify the taste of the customers so that he can provide specification of the software project. Business analyst is responsible for knowing what the customers want so that he is able to provide the same

Global Umbrella Branding and Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Global Umbrella Branding and Marketing - Essay Example Centrica Plc. effectively disputes the above stated theoretical propositions on consumer resistance to umbrella brands as an outcome of corporate practices or the poor performance of other products sharing the same brand name. While it publicly engages in philanthropic activities, the corporation has a poor labour relations record, has consistently proven itself a socially irresponsible company, and has fuelled claims that it is, in essence, a monopolistic, exploitative entity. Yet, this has not resulted in the above theorised consumer resistance and, indeed, has not halted Centrica Plc's expansion or stemmed its ever-spiralling success. While it can be argued that this is partially because there are no substitutes to Centrica's products and services, it is the position of this study that the aforementioned evidences the fact that the marketing and brand management of umbrella brands have the potential to overcome the challenges posed by corporate practices. The study proposes to examine umbrella brand management within the context of a global company. In so doing, the dissertation will argue that effective marketing strategies have the potential to negate the forces which incite consumer resistance. ... The study proposes to examine umbrella brand management within the context of a global company. In so doing, the dissertation will argue that effective marketing strategies have the potential to negate the forces which incite consumer resistance. The aforementioned shall be argued and established through reference to Centrica Plc. As presented in the preceding paragraph, the importance of the topic stems from its theoretical and practical implications. While not arguing against the validity of consumer resistance theories, the research will dispute the proposition that it cannot be offset by marketing strategies. Indeed, brand management, such as which Centrica Plc has proven itself proficient at, can negate the forces which incite consumer resistance to umbrella brands. Insofar as it will focus upon the validation of the aforementioned, the study's theoretical value derives from the fact that it will highlight the potential of the marketing of umbrella brands to offset consumer resistance. Furthermore, to the extent that it will highlight how Centrica managed to do so, the study has practical value. 3 Company Background Centrica Plc was formed in 1997 in the wake of the demerger of British Gas. Over the past decade, the corporation has experienced significant growth levels, largely due to its expansion both beyond Britain and beyond the energy market. With operations in all of North America, Germany, Norway, Spain and Belgium, Centrica is a testament to effective and successful strategic global brand management. Controlling 76% of the UK's domestic energy market and sourcing and supplying energy across the world, Centrica also owns the Automobile Association (AA), Goldfish (a credit card company), and has interests in the residential phone market, to

Introduction To Social Work Practice

Introduction To Social Work Practice A referral has been made by the PSNI because they are concerned about two children aged 18 months and 4 years old following their attendance at an incident of domestic violence the previous Saturday evening. Area Child Protection Committee (ACPC,2005, 9.25) state Child protection is everyones business . Gateway teams have been established within the five Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland, to deal with all referrals both from professionals and members of the public who are concerned about a childs well being. Social work is a profession that embraces the principles of The Human Rights Act 1998(HRA). The Children Order (Northern Ireland) 1995 (Order 1995) underpins all aspects of the powers and duties of the social work mandate governed by social work law. The Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) code of practice reflect profession ethical and values which are intertwined with law, societal values and are at the heart of how workers conduct their practice. Article 66 of the Children Order places a duty on workers to investigate all allegations or suspicions of abuse likely to cause harm to a child. The Family Homes and DV (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 has been incorporated into the Children Order. Article 12 A, identifies the risk of harm to a child from witnessing DV, (Order, 1995). The social work role is to assess and intervene if a child is in need or at risk of significant harm. Article 17 of the Order defines a child in need as unlikely to achieve or maintain a reasonable standard of health or development without the provision of services by the Health and Social Services Trust or if the child is disabled (Order, 1995). Upon recite of this referral the worker must take time to tune in to the potential risks and appropriate action as a result of this information. The worker needs to contact the PSNI and clarify the details of the referral including the severity of the DV. Multi-agency working is a key function of social work in the area of child protection and fundamental to assessment of risk. Joint working protocols exist between the PSNI and workers in Northern Ireland. The lone working policies acknowledge, violence against workers is not unheard of and the PSNI will accompany the worker to enable them to carry out the initial assessment if needed. NI is a country emerging from conflict; however, stereotypical attitudes and beliefs about the PSNI and some members of the community are deep rooted. The worker needs to assess how s/he can proceed safely. According to the Order 1995, the welfare of the child is paramount. Social workers try to build positive relationships with parents and families. The Article 8 European Convention of Human Rights offers, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ protection for a persons private and family life, home and correspondence from arbitrary interference by the State, (www.yourrights.org). An over authoritarian approach may serve to alienate parents but this does not mean the worker takes unnecessary risks regarding her own or others safety, (NISCC, 2004, 4.3). The social worker is obliged to screen details of the people involved against the e-information system and the child protection register (CPR), for current or previous social service involvement. Names of the children need to be entered individually; it is not uncommon for one child in a family to be registered and another not. If the family or children have had previous involvement with social services and the case is now closed the manual records need to be accessed and read. If the worker has any ambiguity about the interpretation of the information, clarity must be sought with the principal social worker or whoever is the relevant party. Workers are accountable for the quality of their work. (NISCC, 2004,6.0) At present the worker has no way of identifying the level of risk posed to these two children. DV is a contributory factor in half of all the serious case reviews and 75% of the cases on the child protection register. (Hester, et al.1998). When all background information is gathered the worker needs to communicate her findings both in writing and verbally to the supervisor/team leader/manager, whom in turn has ultimate responsibility for prioritising the referral based on the available information. Failure to follow the risk assessment policies and procedures and effectively use information can have fatal consequences for the service user. If this referral was to result in a child/ren getting harmed the social work could be held personally culpable. Ignorance is not an excuse, (Stafford and Hardy 1996 cited Calder, 2003, p.8). Brearley, 1982, suggests risk is calculated by the likelihood of the variation of possible outcomes Past knowledge provides a reasonable basis for prediction of harm. Stafford and Hardy (1996 cited Calder, 2002, p.8.) The Children Order, Cooperating to Safeguard Children, 2003 and Our Children and Young People Our Shared Responsibility, 2006-2016 expresses the need for workers and all professionals to communicate. Partnership recognises the expertise of other professionals and agencies, including the parents when it comes to the protection of children. (NISCC, 2004,6.7) The ACPC policy states a child must be seen and spoken to by the worker within 24 hours and that an initial assessment of need is completed within 7 working days of receiving the referral (ACPC,2005,para 9.25). The worker will undertake the initial assessment with the family. Milner and O Byrne (2002) describe social work as a goal directed activity. The worker needs to know the possible impact of DV on the health and development of children this age and be able to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse. The NISCC code of practice states a worker needs to adequately prepare and plan all aspects of work, (NISCC, 2004 6.4). According to Parker and Bradley, (2003) assessment is a balance between art and science. There are no scientific tools, which can predict human behaviour or eliminate risks totally. Social work training and education equip social workers with the knowledge and skills to practice. (NISCC, 2004) The social work profession is grounded in the humanistic principles before any direct interaction takes place the worker needs to reflect on what the serious nature of what she is intending to do. In the area of child protection there is a considerable power imbalance between the worker and service user. The worker is effectively calling the competency of the parents into question. Workers could expect parents to be less than welcoming. It is hardly surprising given the invasiveness and instructiveness of the investigative role of child protection. People may feel intimidated and fearful that their children might be taken into care. This can result in hostility, anger and resentment towards the worker. (Adams, et al, 2009 p224). According to Farmer and Owen, (1995) Mullender, (1996) and (Mc Williams and Mc Kiernan (1995), DV is always about power and control. Their research is overwhelmingly based on male to female abuse but they do acknowledge the existence of violence against men and reciprocal violence. The worker needs to be consciously aware of this and respect the marginalized and vulnerable position of victim and abuser of DV. The worker needs to modify her own practice to address these issues sensitively and in a manner that will not further the oppression of the victim. Various trains of thought exist as to whether empathy is a character trait or a learned skill that develops through continuous practice but it is crucial that the worker understand the importance of the perspective of the service user. Schulman 1984(cited in Cournoyer. p.22) states, Preparatory empathy involves putting yourself in the clients shoes and trying to view the world through their eyes. Beckett and Maynard (2005) believe in the name of respect, parents have a right to know why their family is being investigated and why the worker wants to see and speak to their children. Informing the parents of their rights, including their right to complain, taking time to explain the investigation process and taking time to actively listen to parents and encouraging them to express their views will at least go in some way to upholding public trust and confidence in the social work profession. The involvement of the gateway worker will be time limited. If this family need further intervention the gateway worker needs to set the precedence for further social work involvement. If a family have a negative experience of one social worker they are likely to perceive all social workers to behave the same. Cleaver, et al (1995) stresses the need for the worker to be open and honest from the start of the process, if any trust is to be established. Much of the assessment relies on participation of the parent, without which the worker will have great difficulty making an accurate assessment and as a result the children or the family may not get the support they need and the appropriate intervention to either meet their needs or keep them safe. (Parker and Bradley, 2003) In the spirit of social justice and ethical practice holding the balance between the safety of the children, the importance of family life to a child and the need to avoid unnecessary interference underpins every part of the Childrens Order as it applies in practice (Children Order, 1995). Professional ethics requires the worker to critical reflect at every stage of the process in order to think logically and make sense of what is happening. Awareness of their own prejudices and discriminatory attitudes and a willingness to challenge them means the worker can begin to approach this family in a genuine and anti oppressive manner. According to Preston-Shoot and Agass (1990, p38) reactions can be determined by the workers own personal history and current emotional experiences. A worker who has grown up in a home where DV has been an issue may have very different feelings compared to a social worker who has never had personal experience of DV. Workers have a professional duty under the NISCC codes of practices and in the interests of social justice not to just maintain but promote the dignity and worth of all services users. Banks (2006, p3) states, Professional values need to distinguish between personal values. If the worker has concerns she can explore them through supervision either with her team or senior. Pauline Hardiker has developed the single assessment framework tool for assessing the needs of children-Understanding Needs of Children in Northern Ireland (UNOCINI) tool. The UNOCINI adopts an holistic view to assessing the needs of children. It has three interlinked areas of assessment. The needs of the child, the capacity of their parents to meet their needs and the wider family and environmental factors, such as employment and housing issues are assessed as having an impact the childs life and well being. Our Young People Our Shared Responsibility, 2006-2016 is the Governments Ten Year Strategys pledge, which reflects the prevention through early intervention social policy ethos and parental responsibility and partnership principles of the Children Order are fundamental to the UNOCINI. Social workers have an ethical commitment, to promote social justice and equality to support parents in need, to bring up their children. The aim is early identification of need, purposeful intervention, with the objective of preventing difficulties escalating and promoting the strengths and resilience of the family. Threshold of needs correspond with risk. The thinking behind this is to promote a shared understanding between professionals to identify concerns, risk, needs and strengths, particularly in the area of communication. DV is cited in threshold three of needs, (DHSSPSNI, 2007). Mullender et al, (2004) believes children face three risks: the risk of observing traumatic events, the risk of being abused themselves, and the risk of being neglected. Jean Paiget (1896-1980) is instrumental in constructing the idea that healthy children develop through a serious of ordered sequences, known as milestones. No two children will follow exactly the same pattern but it would be reasonable to expect that a child of 18 months would be starting to talk, walk and explore their environment. A 4-year-old would be able to walk, talk in sentences, and be out of nappies. Osofsky, (2004,p4) stresses, Trauma due to domestic violence interferes with a childs development. Mullender et al (2004) whilst agreeing with Osofsky suggests that protective factors, such as a supportive not violent adult, a placid temperament and the childs young age and lack of ability to full appreciate what is happening might help reduce the risks to children. She does point out that each child is different and will respond differently. Professional ethics and values of the social work profession emphases the need to treat each child as an individual (NISCC, 2004, 1.1). The key factors in the parenting and child domain are basic care, ensuring safety, emotional warmth, stimulation, guidance and boundaries and stability. (Howarth, 2004,p24) A report by Davenport in 1984 cited in Howarth (2004) discovered DV has a very negative impact on the mental health of the victim. Parents are more likely to respond with irritability and anger or fail to respond at all, rendering them emotionally unavailable to their children. Attachment theory believes that if a childs primary attachment is damaged in the first or second year of their life they are at significantly increased risk of developing problems later in life. Fahlberg (1991, p.64) states The primary task to be accomplished during the first year of life is for the baby to develop trust in others and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ explore their environmentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ children growing up in a violent household may be too frightened to show inquisitiveness. Humphreys et al (2006) explored the emotional turmoil of children drawn into participating in the violence leaving the child confused and afraid and the parent undermined as a valued human being in their own eyes and the in the eyes of the child. Humphreys has also drawn attention presumed attitudes that expect all mothers to love their children and treat them the same. The child that looks like the abuser or the child that is born as a result of rape may be more vulnerable to harm than the child who is none of these things. Maslows higher hierarchy of needs believes that a child needs to feel safe and have a sense of belongingness within their family if they are to achieve their full potential, (Hoghughi and Long, 2004). Without this they are unlikely to achieve their full potential. Smale and Tuson, (1993 cited Coulshed and Orme 1998) recommend the exchange model where all people are seen as experts on their own problems and the emphasis is on the exchange of information rather than the worker being the expert. Listening is a core skill of any communication process. Social workers have been ridiculed in the past for their know it all approach, often leaving families stigmatised and traumatised because of their investigations but without any purposeful intervention. Lord Lamming (Laming report, 2003 cited in Wilson and James, 2008, p.254) following the death of Victoria Climbe, is clear that the aim of communication with children or about children is to gain a comprehensive understanding of a day in the life of a child. Children may engage through play. The worker could ask the child what TV programmes they watch or who makes dinner or puts them to bed. DV is not just about controlling people it involves controlling the household movements. The social worker needs to maintain vigilance for any visible signs of injury and needs to ask the child what happened. Workers should engage parents at every stage of the process. The worker needs to ask the parents permission to share and collate the information; however, regardless if they agree or not the information will need to be shared in the interest of child protection. All social work involvement needs to be proportionate to the age and developmental needs of the children and the nature and severity of the risks, concerns and strengths of the individual child and their respective family. Farmer and Owen, (1995, p79) has highlighted that in the face of allegations couples often from a defensive alliance against outside agencies. They may have conflicting and confusing feelings of love and hate towards each other. Thompson,(2006) advised couples often have multiple truths of events and experiences. This advises the worker not to be drawn into giving personal judgements or opinions. Thompson,(2006) focuses on the personal, cultural and structural model of oppression, (PCS) which might explain why women do not leave. Dobash and Dobash, (1979 cited in Cleaver, 1999) suggest that on a personal level women feel shame and guilt; they know their children are affected and they dont report DV or seek support because they fear they will not be believed or that they may be killed for reporting it. The impact of violence can lead to the woman feeling worthless and isolated. Culturally women are brought up from childhood to be caretakers, to comfort others and as a result of this they may believe that they are responsible for the abusers attacks, if they were a better wife, mother, cook, and then the violence would stop. The patriarchal nature of society often sees many women dependant for finance on a man. Thompson (2006) remarks, bring a child up in poverty is not impossible but it is hard. Structurally, the lack of affordable housing and a lack of confidence in the legal system are barriers that prevent women from leaving an abusive partner. Family Homes and DV (Northern Ireland) Order 1998,Article 29 gives courts the power to remove an suspected abuser from the family home instead of removing the children. (Children Order, 1995) but this does not guarantee safety. The new Government have warned of social welfare cut backs; the worker has to balance the needs of the family against available scarce recourses. Banks (2003 p101) states, a worker needs to be able to challenge agency policies and practicesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Professional code of ethics along with education will have a role to play in this. A worker needs time to complete an accurate assessment. Heavy caseloads and a lack of resources have contributed to failure to protect in the past. Empowerment is about actively finding ways that the victim can make use of intervention to help themselves move towards the survivor role and care and their children without the support of the state. Conclusion Accurate, precise recording are vitally important to child protection and helps build the picture of childrens lives. The risks and strengths posed to them will provide the basis for shared understanding, analysis, decision-making and plans about the children and their family. The social worker on the Gateway team is responsible for drawing all the strands of information together. Health visitors, GP, PSNI, extended family all hold key pieces of information that could protect these children. The Gateway team is responsible for convening the initial case conference. All stakeholders need to contribute. Similar treads of poor communication, lack of interagency working and inaccurate recording, has consistently reappeared throughout Serious Case Reviews. In 1973 Maria Colwell aged 7 was beaten to death by her stepfather. In 2007 Arthur Mc Enhill set fire to his home killing his whole family, 7 in total and the same year 17month old Peter Connolly died after suffering horrific abuse. Domestic violence was a key feature in all of these tragedies. Pemberton, (2010, p17) advises, Patterns in social history and behaviour can be detected and something, which may appear insignificant in isolation, can be identified as a key warning sign in context Word Count: 3244

The Genius of M.C. Escher Essay -- Biography

The Genius of M.C. Escher Mathematics is the central ingredient in many artworks. While notions of infinity and parallel lines brought â€Å"perspective† to the artistic realm in creating realistic representations of depth and dimension, mathematics has influenced art in a more definite way – by actually becoming art. The introduction of fractal geometry and tessellations as creative works spawned the creation of new and innovative genres of art, which can be exemplified through the works of M.C Escher. Escher’s pieces are among the most recognized works of art today. While visually stimulating and deeply meaningful, his art reflects many ideas of mathematics through geometry, symmetry, and patterns. Maurits Cornelius Escher was born on June 17th, 1898 in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, the son of a civil engineer. A terrible student in high school, young Escher spent much of his free time drawing and sketching. His early interest in art, along with the wishes of his father, influenced his decision to attend the School of Architecture and Decorative Arts in Haarlem. At age 21, however, M.C. dropped out after two years of study to pursue independent work in the arts. Throughout a ten-year period, Escher traveled around Italy sketching impressions. Finding little success and on the verge of poverty, Escher ventured to Spain in the late 1920’s in search of novel inspiration, which he found in the abundant Moorish tilings there. It was also during this time that Escher’s mathematical influences took shape, as he read Polya’s 1924 paper on plane symmetry groups. Despite his mathematical inadequacies, Escher was able to understand and reproduce the 17 plane symmetry groups as described by Polya (M. C. Es... ...y, M.C. Escher’s artworks are among the most widely recognized. His timeless and intriguing pieces drive thousands of admirers to his exhibitions around the world. Incorporating numerous mathematical concepts into his works, he elegantly demonstrated the distinct art and math relationship. Escher died on March 27th, 1972. However, his legacy lives on, along with controversy surrounding the question: was Escher an artist or mathematician? Works Cited â€Å"Escher Centennial Celebration.† [WWW] http://www.iproject.com/escher/escher100.html. 16 October 1999. Goode, Stephen. â€Å"The Artist who Sketched out a Geometry of Imagination.† Insight on the News 23 March 1998: 39. â€Å"M.C. Escher: Artist or Mathematician?† [WWW] http://library.advanced.org/11750. 16 October 1999. â€Å"Totally Tessellated.† [WWW] http://library.advanced.org/16661. 17 October 1999.

Breast Feeding is Best Essay -- breast-feeding

Argumentative Breast is Best   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If one chooses to have a child, shouldn’t he or she be obligated to do what is best for that child? There are many important choices to make for that child, and some may be more difficult than others. Hospital or home birth? Pampers or Huggies? Crib or family bed? But when it comes to feeding, the choice is clear. Breast-feeding is the best choice that mothers can make for themselves and their child.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Not everyone agrees that breast-feeding is the best choice. Some argue that bottle feeding is democratic and gives other members of the family a chance to feed the baby. I agree that family members need a chance to experience the thrill of nourishing the new life, but giving the child a bottle of formula is not necessary. Mother’s can express breast milk and put it into a bottle when other family members want to feed the child.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Most new mothers are eager to get back to their pre-pregnancy weight. Some may choose to formula feed so that they can stop eating for two and maybe even diet, things which are impossible for a nursing mother. On the other hand, a women who is producing milk uses between 1,000 and 3,500 calories per day more than at other times in her life (Lim 63). With all of the extra calories burned, she may not need to diet at all to reach her desired weight (Eisenberg, Murkoff, and Hathaway 7).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A new mother may choose to bottle feed because she wants to monitor intake and make sure that her child is getting e...

Sex education in high school

Ada Vargas 9/12/12 ENGL Ill-D40 Argumentative essay Sex education in high schools High schools should provide better sexual education. Prevention is better than cure. The federal government should provide more information in schools and required sex education in the first year of high school. This is important because there are a lot of sexually transmitted diseases, teenage pregnancy, and teen abortions. Boskey (2011) stated that sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are â€Å"some of the most difficult diseases in the world to catch† (paral).Although there are a lot of resources available o obtain information such as the internet, books and magazines most of the time teens do not take the time to read so there should be required classes in high school to inform them about STDs. Many teens have sex without knowing that millions of teens get STDs because they do not know about prevention and the consequences of these diseases. It is important to educate teens about this serious problem in their first year of high school.According to the Center Detection in San Antonio, Texas people between the ages of 1 5 and 24 are acquiring about the half of the STDs lthough they represent the twenty five percent of the sexually experienced population (2011). The US diagnosed nineteen million cases of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia and cost the government seventeen billion per year to the nation's health care (Preidt, 2011). It is a fact that STDs are a big issue the nation is dealing with today. This affects a lot of teens and their families, including the countrys economy.Almost all STDs are treatable but there are consequences if they are not detected and treated on time. The question is why waste time and money? You can each teens about the consequences of having sex without protection. It is a fact that teens are not prepared physically, psychologically and economically to have children. Teen mothers cannot afford a better quality of life for their children as e stablished older mothers can. According to the Family First Aid â€Å"the US has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and births in the western industrialized world.Teen pregnancy costs the United States at least seven billion annually' (2002). Swierzewski (2012) points out about the pregnancy rates in the US: Teen pregnancy rates in the United States ell forty percent from 1992 to 2008-to their lowest level since 1976. The decline in the teen pregnancy rates was consistent during this time period, except for an increase in 2005 and 2006. In teenage girls aged fifteen to seventeen, the pregnancy rate has declined by almost fifty percent since 1990 and the rate in older teens decreased by about thirty percent. para 2) Teen pregnancy is a major concern because we all have teenage friends with babies or young relatives that became pregnant at an early age. The bad news for our community is that New Mexico is the tate with the most teen pregnant moms, ninety three per one thousand, foll owed by Nevada, Arizona, Texas and Mississippi. (Kost, K. and Henshaw, S and Carlin, L 2010). We need to prevent teen pregnancy because is affecting a lot of people in a lot of ways such as economically, socially and morally. The solution is to provide information and advert the youths about the risk and consequences of having sex without protection.Another concern about teenage pregnancies is that many results in to teen abortions. It is not easy to have a baby for a teenager. Lowen (2012) found that there was a decrease of abortion from forty six percent to thirty one percent from 1986 to 2008. Teens that have babies normally do not finish high school. How are they are going to take care and support their children? Abortions have a lot of consequences that teens sometimes do not consider such as depression and infertility. Although the best way to avoid all these problems is abstention the reality is that teens are having sex.It is better to educate and inform teens about the risk s they take when they have sex without protection. Prevention is better than treatment and cure. The US is the country with the most teen pregnancies, and teen abortions, and teens with STDs. In conclusion, we should have better sexual education in high schools. References Boskey, E. Ph. D. (2011, November 12). STD 101 – Top Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) You Should Know About. About. com Guide. Retrieved fromhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nominal_Pipe_Sizehttps://prochoice.org/education-and-advocacy/about-abortion/abortion-facts/https://www.thoughtco.com/g00/why-teens-choose-abortion-3534251?i10c.referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com.ua%2Fhttps://www.usatoday.com/topic/D2591A44-DFD9-4D0D-AF7A-CC0B3B92CBB0/health-wellness/https://www.cdc.gov/std/http://www.healthcommunities.com/teen-pregnancy/children/overview-of-teen-pregnancy.shtml   

The South African Youth

Reflecting back on the tragedy that just occurred at Columbine High School in Denver Colorado and the generalizations being made about the U.S youth and the crisis that we are in and supposedly are experiencing ,I decided to research the youth crisis in South Africa. There is at present no â€Å"youth crisis† as such. However young people find themselves in the midst of a range of crises that should be addressed urgently by the state and society. † South African youths† as a category refers to South Africans between 15 and 30 years of age; they constitute 29,5% of the population, yet there is no comprehensive youth policy in place to attend to their needs. Most young people share common values of society – signs of radicalism and militarism are found in only a minority of youth. Only a small percentage of South Africa's youth can be considered truly marginalized as the country's youth as a whole and therefore cannot be called a â€Å"lost generation†. Thirty-seven per cent of South Africa population were below the age of 15 in 1991. It can be compared with the average of 40% for similar countries in the world, less-developed countries averaging 44% and industrialized countries 23%. The composition of people between 15 and 30 years, comprised 29,5% of South Africa's population. Figures for racial categories indicate a total of approximately 8,3 million (75%) black, 1,4 m. (12%) white, 1,1 m. (10%) colored and 300 000 (3%) Asian youths in this group. There are many problems for the South African Youth and some of the most challenging problems include family and community instability that leads to a wide range of other social problems for youth. The black family has been under enormous strain partly because of an education system that is not providing all youth with relevant and quality education. Economic stagnation, together with inadequate education, has resulted in high levels of unemployment and poverty, especially among women and blacks. Demographic factors which continue to impact on the South African population and more specifically the youth. It has been estimated that by 1995, 50% of the age cohort 15 to 19 will live in urban areas. The extent to which young people from the different racial and cultural groups have become isolated from one another, with the accompanying negative stereotypes, intolerance and racism. A historical survey in the report leaves little doubt that South African youth have over the years been victims of political and socio-cultural crises. They have been subjected to poverty, blatant political manipulation, racial and other divisions that tore the country apart, and a lack of any systematic youth policy to attend to their needs. As a group, they have for many years been largely ignored by the leaders in control of their destiny. And yet, from the earliest decades of the century, they have attempted to assert themselves by forming youth organizations, by protesting against injustices and by insisting on a decent education and living conditions. Unemployment has been a struggle for the South African Youth. Studies show roughly 42% of youth between the ages of 15 and 30 were unemployed. Young women were particularly disadvantaged. In the first place, they were less likely to be part of the labor force because large numbers were involved in unpaid domestic work. Secondly, they found it difficult to find employment while being involved in unpaid domestic work. Unemployment affects the unmarried, junior members of households more adversely than the other members. Unemployment is higher in the homelands and in urban areas that comprise squatter and informal settlements close to the major metropolitan area. It is however unclear as to whether unemployment is higher in rural or in urban areas. At the time, studies indicate 45% of the black, 12% of the white, 40% of the colored and 29% of the Asian youth were unemployed. Family structure and living conditions play an important role. The core family has been seriously affected by social upheavals. Studies indicate that 22% of white, 20% of Asian, 32% of colored and 40 % of black families are currently headed by females. Stability may be found in nuclear, extended, compound or single-parent families. The extended kinship system among blacks and Asians seems to cushion the negative effects of disrupted nuclear family units. However, many youths are not experiencing stability of an enduring nature, and it emerges from surveys that a lot of young people are receiving only fragmented care. The lack of control, supervision and attention is clearly linked to teenagers' negative behavior such as alcohol and drug abuse, crime, indiscriminate and unprotected sexual activities, etc. Percentages of teenage pregnancies and births out of wedlock are unacceptably high and AIDS is a frightening reality. Amenities such as electricity, on-tap water, waterborne sewerage, refuse removal, etc, are massively under provided to blacks. Black youth live in homes of which 46 % do not have running water and 57 % have no electricity. Only 53 % blacks have access to television Over the life span of today's youth, a third of all Asian families, nearly a quarter of all colored families and nearly a fifth of the black population were forcibly moved by one method or another. Culture and youth organizations play a very important role in the South African youth of today. Studies affirm that one cannot really speak of a single, monolithic â€Å"youth culture†. In an era of rapid social transformation, stereotyped binary cultural oppositions such as urban/rural, elitist/popular, modern/traditional, are also losing their essential distinctive value. For example, some research point to the possibility that the position that youth occupied in â€Å"traditional†, conservative societies has changed with urbanization and westernization. Recognition of youth's new, more assertive position has important implications for policy formulation regarding their diversity and their ability not only to react to change and development but actually help guide it. On the other hand, one study showed that, in spite of lingering signs of racism, 60% of adolescents from all the population groups preferred to identify themselves as â€Å"South African†, which may indicate an increasing sense of shared identity, if not unity. The present processes of societal transformation and democratization make the promotion of a shared culture and values essential; something that should start at school level. Recreation and sports play an important role in young people's lives: 41,7% of male youth and 18,7% of female youth in South Africa are active members of sports clubs. Only 16,3% of all youth however belonged to a youth club and only 8,4% belonged to a cultural organization. Facilities for sports, recreational and organizational activities are urgently needed. The crisis in education is well documented. Black education was seriously disrupted during the 1980s. However, black education expanded greatly in an attempt to fulfil its community's needs, and improved its retention rates at the same time, despite a range of crises that were almost beyond human imagination. For the majority of black youth in South Africa, access to secondary education is restricted to traditional secondary schools where places are limited, facilities are not up to standard, teachers are not properly qualified and access to subjects such as mathematics, physical science, economics, business economics, accounting, etc, is limited because of a shortage of teachers qualified in these subjects. This causes the whole system to be skewed in favor of such subjects as biology, geography, history and biblical studies, which are the four most â€Å"popular† non-language subjects among black pupils. Clearly if this trend were to continue, the youth would be even more fr ustrated with the learning opportunities offered to them. Violence and crime remain endemic in the country and have many destructive effects on youth. Scientific research has shown that black respondents generally rejected violence as a political option, but that about 20% of the white the respondents tended to be militarized in their outlook. In a new democracy like South Africa it is imperative that all its citizens should be politically literate to enable them to participate fully in all facets of a democratic society. Several studies on political literacy among young South Africans have suggested that this country's youth are not well informed about politics. There is probably no area of South African life which has more compellingly shown the extent to which apartheid has isolated and insulated different sections of this country's youth from one another than the area of politics. Youth who grew up in the security and tranquillity of white neighborhoods could fully participate in the parliamentary politics of apartheid South Africa if they wished to do so. They had very little knowledge or understanding of the harsh realities of township life which confronted the vast majority of South Africa's youth every day. For most white youths the events, that have taken place in South Africa's black townships since the mid-seventies, were nothing more than images on the television screen – events they were socialized to interpret as being initiated by radical (communist inspired) people who were attempting to take away their (whites') privileged position. Indeed, white and black youths under apartheid lived in different worlds. Studies have shown that the above problems are ameliorated by two sets of findings, namely that â€Å"the South African youth† by no means represent a uniform category of people, and that the majority of South Africa's young people want to play a constructive role in the creation of a new South Africa. Their rejection of violence, their respect for the cultural and racial diversity in South Africa, the value they place on education and training are all very important to the South African youths of today and in that sense we American youths should learn a thing or two from them. They have adapted in remarkable and innovative ways to the often painful processes of rapid change, and although they may lack skills and opportunities, they are eager to face the challenge of reconstruction and development. Most of them share their communities' values and are basically conservative in their views. Only 8% of the sample claimed no religious affiliation – the majority felt that religion played an important role in their daily lives. In conclusion that the tide may be turning for the country's youth. Population growth rates are decreasing, income distribution is becoming more equal, the assault on family structures was balanced by the growth of the compound family, a legitimately elected government is in place and a national youth policy has been promised in the RDP. June 16 has been declared a public holiday and renamed Youth Day. Not only youth's many contributions to the country, but in particular their sacrifices and hardships have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated.